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) =7 (II My 2 Oct. 26, 1954 G. D. MATEER MO UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER AND COUNTER MECHANISM G n 1 CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN w J Original Filed Jan. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Oct. 26, 1954 G. D. MATEER Re. 23,888

UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER AND COUNTER MECHANISM CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN Original Filed Jan. 5 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TVENTOR ATTORNEYS s. D. MATEER Re. 23,888 UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER AND COUNTER MECHANISM Oct. 26, 1954 CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan. 5,

56 w 5 m 7 z Reissued Oct. 26, 1954 UNIVERSAL FILLER WITH HOPPER AND COUNTER MECHANISM CONTROLLED AUGER FEEDER THEREIN George Diehl Mateer, Villanova, Pa., assignor to G. Diehl Mateer Co., Devon, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original No. 2,641,384, dated June 9, 1953, Serial No. 69,345, January 5, 1949.

Application for reissue April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,871

8 Claims. (01. 222-70) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to feeders particularly of the character employed in dispensing dry and viscous materials.

A purpose of the invention is to obtain more accurate metering of dry and viscous materials by a feeder, avoiding or minimizing the effects of lost motion in the driving parts and overtravel when the feed is stopped.

A further purpose is to interpose a clutch between a driving and driven shaft, to drive a feeder from the driven shaft, to precisely control the duration of engagement of the clutch, and to effectuate the control by counting revolutions of the driven shaft, thus avoiding error due to slippage in the clutch and lost motion in the connections.

A further purpose is to pick up the clutch under the action of a solenoid, preferably acting on a clutch lever.

A further purpose is to apply spring loading to the clutch which determines the amount of load applied when the solenoid is energized.

A further urpose is to mount a driven shaft and a driving shaft in prolongation of one another on the same axis, to interpose a disc clutch between the driving shaft and the driven shaft and to exert axial pressure on the clutch preferably through a clutch operator and a bearin when the clutch is to pick up.

A further purpose is to provide a drag brake on the driven shaft to aid in stopping the driven shaft.

A further purpose is to permit adjustment of.

the exact vertical position of an auger feeder by adjustin the length of its driving shaft.

A further purpose is to make the hopper and feeder directly and readily detachable from the drive and control unit, in order to facilitate cleaning and to make possible sterilization and feeding under sterile conditions.

A further purpose is to simplify and cheapen the mounting of the feeder hopper, suitably by suspending it through quick attachment screws from a bracket above the hopper.

A further purpose is to vary the speed of the auger or other feeder without changing on the one hand the filling cycle or on the other hand the transfer cycle.

A further purpose is to provide completely electric drive and control of the feeding mechanism so as to facilitate synchronization with ccnveying or other equipment.

A further purpose is to make the control head self -contained and to permit replacement of other hoppers or feeding units on the same control head.

A further purpose is to mount an adjustable impeller on the auger shaft above the auger.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, choosing the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure l is a side elevation of a feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in central vertical section, of the hopper, auger, feeder and related parts, breaking away the control head.

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical section through the control head.

Figure 4 is a half section of Figure 3 on the line 4-4 and a half section of Figure 3 on the line 4'4.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the contacts in the counter.

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram.

Figures '7 and 8 are enlarged transverse sections slightly above the line 4-4 through the disc clutch at positions one disc apart, showing the differences in the discs.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

The dispensing of solid materials such as powders and of viscous materials such as pastes, including foods, medicines, chemicals, insecticides and the like, incident to packaging of such materials, chemical treatment of fluids, chemical reactions and numerous other purposes, requires in some cases accurate metering of the quantity of material being supplied. Weighing devices are in many instances unduly complicated and expensive, whereas auger feeders have often been too inaccurate to be suitable. In accordance with the present invention, the accuracy of an auger feeder is greatly increased, the device being rendered suitable for packaging even of comparatively expensive materials, and for metering of additives in connection with chemical treatment and chemical reactions, as well as the compounding and blending of mixtures.

Many of the prior art auger feeding devices have been inefficient and inaccurate because of lost motion in the operating parts and overtravel at the time motion should cease. The device of the present invention is designed to avoid all such inaccuracy.

In accordance with the invention the counting of the number of revolutions of the au device is accomplished directly on the driven shaft, so that errors are not introduced due to slippage in the clutch. The clutch itself is solenoid operated and is subjected to a spring regulated pressure when the solenoid is energized. When the counter counts out, the clutch solenoi is deenergized, and the auger stops immediately due to the action of a drag brake.

In accordance with the present invention it is possible to change the eed of rotation of the auger or other feeder to accord with the character of the material being fed, without in any way in fiuencing the feeding cycle or influencing the transfer cycle between one feeding cycle and the next. For example, in the case of highly viscous materials it may be desirable to rotate the auger more slowly and in the case of very powdery materials or free flowing materials it may be desirable to rotate the auger more rapidly.

The hopper and auger construction is much improved. The shaft extension which carries the auger clutch is adjustable in length to obtain precise feeding at the mouth of the hopper. The hopper itself is readily removable by thumb screws from an overhead bracket. An impeller in the hopper adjustable for angle prevents arching of the contents which would interfere with uniformity of feed.

The feeder is desirably supported on a stand 20 having a column 2| which is engaged at the top by adjustable clamps 22 which support on the front a controLhead q having at its bottom a downwardly directed hopper bracket 24 which provides a number of openings 25 for receiving screws 25 projecting upwardly through the openings in the cover 2'! of a cone hopper 28. The screws carry quick removable wing nuts 30 and the screws are suitably fastened to the hopper as by rivets 3|. The lower end of the hopper has a mouth 32 surrounded by a retaining collar 33 having an annular external slot which is engaged by radial thumb screws 32 extending inwardly from a dispensing nozzle 35 which is of suitable size to direct the flow of the material being dispensed to the package, receptacle or other point of feeding.

At the opposite side of the column 2! from the control head is a motor bracket 35 adjustable at 31 with respect to the column and carrying an electric motor 38 driving a variable spee pulley 40 which drives a pulley M on a main driving shaft 42 by means of a V-belt 43. The pulley H is partially surrounded by a guard 44.

The main driving shaft 42 is supported in the housing 45 of the control head 23. A bearing sleeve 45 having an upper flange 41 extends into an opening 48 in the top of the housing and supports upper and lower ball bearings 50 and the inner races of which are suitably pressed-on the shaft 42. The bearings are separated by a spacer sleeve 52 surrounding the shaft. The shaft and associated mechanism are readily removable by simply taking out the bolts (not shown) which secure the flange 41 of the shaft to the housing.

The pulley 4! is spaced from the upper bearing by a washer 53 and is locked on the threaded end of the shaft by a nut 54.

On the lower end of the driving shaft and suitably integral therewith is the collar 55 of a disc clutch 55 having discs 51 (see Figures '7 and 8) which are secured against rotation with respect to the collar by extensions 51' into an external slot 58' and having interspersed discs 60 which engage interiorly with a key 6| in a driven shaft 62 which is in prolongation with and coaxial with the driving shaft. The driving shaft is hollow at 63 and the end is closed by plugs 64 and by a closure sleeve 65, against which the end of the driven shaft rests.

When the discs are free from axial compression the clutch slips, but when pressure is applied upwardly on an annular clutch element 65 which engages the lowermost clutch disc and is capable of compressing the discs, the clutch picks up. Pick-up is accomplished by an annular cupshaped clutch operator 61 surrounding the driven shaft 62 but rotationally stationary, which holds a. ball thrust bearin 68 between the clutch element 66 and the clutch operator 61, thus permitting the clutch element to turn with the clutch while the clutch operator does not rotate. The clutch operator in retracted position engages a Washer 10 surrounding the driven shaft. At diametrically opposite points the clutch operator has pins H making pivotal engagement in le vers 12 having fixed pivots 13 on the housing and suitably at the ends of the levers. The levers may desirably converge as shown in Figure 4, and at their opposite ends have preferably vertical openings 14 which pass bolts 15, which also extend through openings in a magnetically susceptible solenoid armature 76 which is of T shape and suitably bridges across above the ends of the levers. Above the solenoid armature the bolts are surrounded by compression springs TI, washers 18 and adjustment nuts 80 which regulate the compression of the springs. A solenoid coil 8| suitably mounted on the housing surrounds the armature.

The driven shaft 62 below the washer Ill carries a brake drum 82 keyed to the shaft and suitably integral with a bevel gear 83, The brake drum is surrounded by a brake band 84 which is split at 85 and urged toward its tightening position by a spring 86 surrounding an adjustment bolt 81 across the split at 85. To prevent the brake from rotating, an anchor 88, preferably of spring material, extends into the slot at 85 and is secured at 90 on the housing.

At the bottom of the housing, the driven shaft has thrust washers Bi and a journal bearing 92. The lower end of the driven shaft is threaded at 93 and as best seen in Figure 2 threads into a coaxial shaft extension 94, the threaded adjustment between the driven shaft and the shaft extension being locked by a lock nut 95. The shaft extension passes through an opening 98 in the cover of the hopper. The shaft extension at its lower end carries a bayonet slot chuck 91 which receives and holds a depending feeding auger 9B. Mounted transversely of the shaft extension in an opening therein and held in place by a set screw N30 is an impeller llll having a straight rod portion I02 at one side and a suitable oval blade I03 at the opposite side. The angle of inclination of the blade as well as the relative extension of the impeller on either side can be adjusted by loosening the set screw I00. The impeller prevents arching of the contents in the hopper. In the control head the bevel gear 83 makes connection with a transverse bevel gear H34 secured on a shaft I85 journalled at I86 in a mounting plate I01 secured to the housing. At the opposite end the shaft IE5 carries a pinion I08 which connects with a main counter gear H0, having a hub I II which surrounds and journals on but its free from a. shaft H2 journalling at the rear in a. bearing H3 on the plate I01 and journalling at the from on a plate H4.

Secured on the shaft H2 is a cone clutch H5 which engages in a cone socket, on the gear H0, the gear normally being urged away from the position o1 engagement by a spring I I6. A clutch solenoid II'I having a magnetically susceptible armature H8 acts on a clutch lever I having a fixed pivot at I2I and surrounding and acting against the hub III of the gear H0 to urge the gear against the clutch when the solenoid II 1 picks up. The armature H3 is also pivotally connected by a link I22 to a set of upper electrical contacts I23 and I24 having fixed pivot at I25. On the same fixed pivot are cooperating lower contacts I26 and I21 insulated from the upper contacts and urged away from the respective upper contacts by springs I28.

The shaft II2 carries on it a counter arm I30 which on return to initial position for zeroing engages a stop I3I The shaft is constantly urged toward the zero position by a torsion spring I32. Pivotally mounted at I33 on the outer end of the counter arm I30 is a tripping bellcrank I34 which rides a. counter cam I35 having a cam projection I36 which indicates the position of counting out. The cam is adjusted to any desired angle by a knob I31 carrying a'suitable adjustment dial and pointer forming no part of the present invention. The tripping bellcrank I34 has an opposite end I40 which rides against the fiange of a collar I4I loose on the shaft and engaging the fork of a release lever I42 having a fixed pivot at I43 and engaging the lower portion of the lower contacts I26 and I21 at a suitably insulated position. A leaf spring I44 acting against the side of the cam I35 tends to hold the releasing lever in its non-release position. When the bottom of the releasing lever swings to the right in Figure 3 the top swings to the left allowing the upper end of the releasing lever to enter a releasing slot I45 in the lower contacts, thus causing contacts I26 and I21 to drop, breaking the circuits at I23, I26 and I24, I21.

The counter here employed is a very convenient form, but it will be evident that any other suitable counter may be used.

The electric circuit may suitably be of the character shown in Figure 6. A main dispensing switch I46 closes, either manually or automatically as desired, closing the circuit from electrical leads I41, I40 oi a suitable electric current source through the counter clutch solenoid II1. This closes contacts I23, I26 and I24, I21 of the counter. the operation closes only instantaneously and it now breaks its parallel branch circuit, but the clutch solenoid H1 remains energized through the clutch contacts I23, I26. The closing of the switch I24, I21 energizes the main drive clutch solenoid 8 I, causing the main drive clutch to pick up and begin the driving of the driven shaft and the auger feeder. At the same time the bevel gears begin to rotate and the counter counts the rotations until the predetermined position for counting out is reached, at which the switches I23, I20 and I24, I21 are opened by the action of the tripping lever I34 on the releasing lever I42 against spring I44, causing the lower switch contacts I26 and I21 to drop and break the circuits.

In operation the device is set up at a desired point of dispensing, either for manual or automatic use. The hopper and control head are adjusted to the correct height by releasing and The switch I46 which initiated tightening the clamps 22. The belt is properly adjusted by releasing and tightening the motor mounting clamp at 31. The auger extension is then adjusted as to length by loosening and tightening the lock nut 95. The proper auger is inserted into the auger chuck at the end of the driven shaft extension, and the impeller is adjusted as to position and angle of the blade by loosening and tightening the set screw I00. The hopper is tightened in position by taking up the wing nuts 30.

The main driving shaft 42 is continuously driven by the motor during operation, but the driven shaft, auger and counter are held in stationary position except when the main driving clutch picks up. To assure that the position is stationary, the brake band 84 continuously engages the brake drum 82, applying this drag at all times.

When it is desired to operate the feeder, the main switch I46 is momentarily closed, energizing the counter clutch solenoid U1, which pulls its armature to the right in Figure 3, pulling the counter clutch lever to the right and forcing hub II I and gear I I0 to the right so that the gear engages the counter clutch cone l I5. The driving connection is now established between the driven shaft 62 through the bevel gears 83 and I04, the pinion I08 and the gear H0 to drive the shaft H2 continuously as the driven shaft may be turned, thus moving tripping hellgrank I34 over the circumferential path on cam I35. At the same time the energizing of the counter clutch solenoid II1 pulls link I22 and closes switch contacts I23 and I24 against their cooperating switch contacts I26 and I21 respectively. The closing of these switches causes the clutch solenoid to remain energized notwithstanding that switch I 45 opens, and energizes the main drive clutch solenoid BI, whose armature moves up in Figure 3 (since the bulk of the armature is normally below the center of the coil) tending to pull the lefthand end of clutch lever 12 up, and moving the clutch operator 61. thrust bearing 68 and clutch element 66 up to apply pressure between the clutch discs, and cause the clutch to pick up, thus starting rotation of the driven shaft.

The springs 11 limit the amount of force transmitted by the solenoid armature 16 to the clutch, thus permitting the solenoid to over-travel without applying too much pressure to the clutch, and assuring that the impact of the solenoid action is not transmitted to the clutch in the form of a damaging blow but rather is cushioned by the springs.

When the counter counts out, the switch elements I26 and I21 open, and this disconnects both the counter clutch solenoid and the main drive clutch solenoid, at which point the torsional spring I32 returns the counter and tripping bellcrank or lever to zero against the stop III, while the driven shaft and auger stop instantly due to the drag of the brake. The main solenoid, being de-energized, permits the clutch discs to separate under the resilience in the clutch itself, under gravity and under the action of the springs 11.

In accordance with the invention. the feeder is very adaptable to a wide variety of dry and viscous materials. Great accuracy in feeding is achieved, since the count is accomplished directly on the impeller shaft and the brake assures instantaneous stopping. The main driving clutch solenoid picks up and releases instantaneously,

while the springs avoid any damage from this effect.

The hopper impeller and auger construction is very readily taken apart for cleaning and very quickly reassembled for further use.

It will be understood that where reference is made to an auger feeder, it is contemplated that a rotor or any other similar type of feeder may be employed.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a feeder, a hopper, an auger feeder in the hopper controlling the feed therefrom, a. driven shaft on the auger feeder, a, driving shaft, a disc clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft, a lever pivotally mounted for applying pressure to and releasing pressure from the disc clutch, an electric solenoid operatively connected to the lever and when energized causing the lever to apply pressure to the disc clutch, and an electric counter operatively connected to the driven shaft to respond to the revolutions of the driven shaft, operatively connected to the solenoid and including a switch in the solenoid circuit by which the solenoid is disconnected when the counter counts out.

2. In a feeder, a hopper, an auger feeder controlling discharge from the hopper, a driven shaft mounting the auger feeder, a driving shaft coaxial with the driven shaft, a disc clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft and having a pressure element to which pressure can be applied axially to make the disc clutch pick up, a bearing interposed on the opposite side of the pressure element of the disc clutch from the clutch, a rotatably stationary clutch operator engaging the opposite side of the bearing, lever means pivoted at one end and engaging the clutch operator intermediate between the ends, a solenoid operatively connected to the end of the lever means opposite from the pivot and adapted when energized to bring pressure on the clutch element through the bearing and the operator, and an electric counter operatively connected to the driven shaft and to the solenoid and including a switch in the solenoid circuit by which the solenoid is disconnected when the counter counts out.

3. In a feeder, a hopper, an auger feeder controlling discharge from the hopper, a driven shaft mounting the auger feeder, a driving shaft coaxial with the driven shaft, a disc clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft and having a pressure element to which pressure can be applied axially to make the disc clutch pick up, a bearing interposed on the opposite side of the pressure element of the disc clutch from the clutch, a rotatably stationary clutch operator engaging the opposite side of the bearing, lever means pivoted at one end and engaging the clutch operator intermediate between the ends, a solenoid operatively connected to the end of the lever means opposite from the pivot and adapted when energized to bring pressure on the clutch element through the bearing and the operator, an electric counter operatively 8 connected to the driven shaft and to the solenoid and including a switch in the solenoid circuit by which the solenoid is disconnected when the counter counts out, and a drag brake operatively connected with the driven shaft.

4. In a feeder mechanism for controlling the filling of materials into a container, the combination of a hopper for holding the material to be dispensed, a feeder in the hopper controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a driven shaft on said feeder, a driving shaft operated by a prime mover, a clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and said driven shaft, said clutch forming a positive connection and disconnection between said drivingand driven shafts, means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said driving shaft with said driven shaft, a counter mechanism for counting out revolutions of said driven shaft, gear means on said driven shaft, gear means meshing therewith actuating said counter mechanism, and means actuated by said counter mechanism for operating said clutch actuating means to cause disconnection of said driving shaft from said driven shaft when said counter mechanism counts out a predetermined number of revolutions or fractions thereof.

5. In a feeder mechanism for controlling the filling of materials into a container, the combination of a hopper for holding the material to be dispensed, a feeder in the hopper controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a driven shaft on said feeder, a driving shaft operated by a prime mover, a clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and said driven shaft, means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said driving shaft with said driven shaft, an electrically operated counter mechanism for counting out the revolutions of said driven shaft, gear means on said driven shaft, gear means meshing therewith actuating said counter mechanism, and a solenoid operated switch electrically connected to said counter mechanism, said switch being actuated by said counter mechanism for operating said clutch actuating means to cause disconnection of said driving shaft from said driven shaft when said counter mechanism counts out a predetermined number of revolutions or fractions thereof.

6. In a feeder mechanism for controlling the filling of materials into a container, the combination of a hopper for holding the material to be dispensed, a feeder in the hopper controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a driven shaft on said feeder, a driving shaft coaxial with said driven shaft, a clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft, means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said driven shaft from said driving shaft, an electric counter mechanism operatively connected to the driven shaft for counting the revolutions made by said driven shaft, gear means on said driven shaft, gear means meshing therewith actuating said counter mechanism, and means actuated by said counter mechanism for operating said clutch actuating means to cause disconnection of said driven shaft from the driving shaft when said counter mechanism counts out a predetermined number of revolutions or fractions thereof.

7. In a feeder mechanism for controlling the filling of materials into a container, the combination of a hopper for holding the material to be dispensed, a feeder in the hopper controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a driven shaft on said feeder, a driving shaft coaxial with said driven shaft, a clutch operatively interposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft, means for operating said clutch to connect and disconnect said driven shaft from said driving shaft, an electric counter operatively connected to the driven shaft and to the means for operating said clutch by which said clutch is operated to disconnect said driven shaft from the driving shaft when the counter counts out a predetermined number of revolutions or fractions thereof, and a drag brake operatively connected with said driven shaft for stopping said driven shaft and its feeding mechanism instantly when the driven shaft is disconnected from said driving shaft,

8. In a feeder mechanism for controlling the filling of materials intoa container, the combination of a hopper for holding the material to be dispensed, a feeder in the hopper controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a driven shaft on said feeder, a driving shaft coaxial with said driven shaft, a clutch operativelg interposed between the driving shaft and said driven shaft, means for actuating said clutch to connect and disconnect said driving shaft with said driven shaft, a counter mechanism for counting out the revolutions of said driven shaft, and means actuated by said counter mechanism for operating said clutch actuating means to cause disconnec- 10 tion of said driving shaft from said driven shaft when said counter mechanism counts out a predetermined number of revolutions or fractions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 363,068 Hutson et a1. May 17, 1887 399,187 Dawson Mar. 5, 1889 661,679 Wyckoff Nov. 13, 1900 1,257,910 Meves Feb. 26, 1918 1,311,227 Hartman July 29, 1919 1,499,338 Bold July 1, 1924 1,526,101 Sund Feb. 10, 1925 1,850,260 Daly Mar. 22, 1932 1,930,290 Stresau Oct. 10, 1933 2,066,131 White Dec. 29, 1936 2,278,824 Brotman Apr. '7, 1942 2,305,350 Harper Dec. 15, 1942 2,330,862 Bleam Oct. 5, 1943 2,359,367 Kerr-Laws0n Oct. 3, 1944 2,375,422 Leland May 8, 1945 2,415,854 Sheffield Feb. 18, 1947 2,469,269 Lear May 3, 1949 2,532,913 Higginbottom Dec. 5, 1950 

